New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-27
Tile OPERA COMIOTE FIRE.

There is close correspondence in the de-
tails OF theatre fires. The most appalling ca
lamitics OF this class which have occurred
during tho present generation were the do
strucion Of the Brooklyn Theatre in 1876
and tho Ring Theatre in 1881; and while the
loss Of life does not rrach the same startling
proportions, the burning q the Opera Comlque
in Paris is essentially a repetition OF the con
ditions Of those disasters. There are the
same primary defects in the construction OF
tho building and an equally evil reput2uon as
n VIGOROUSLY unsafe place OF amusement It's
acc alone was against il, as it was built nearly
fifty years agoj and it's insecurity was so
generally acknowledged that within fort
night tho attention Of Ito Chamber OF Dcpu-
tics has been directed to the subject and the
Paris press has warned thcatrc-gocrs Of the
extreme risk Of vcnturing within its walls.
Tho old BROOKLYN and Ring Theatres were in
ike manner reported 10 be what they proved
most danger Gus cages in the co ntingcncy OF
fire. When tho fatal night so long forcsccn
by prudent men at last came tho Opera CO.
mique was burned in Close correspondence with
all tho conditions Of the previous calamltics.
In the case Of the Brooklyn Theatre the
borders Of scenery caught fire from the gas
Jets and tho flames with amazing rapidity en-
veoped the stage and spread to the galleries
and dome. tho ceiling falling before the dress
circle was eInpticd. IN the Vienna catastro-
phe tho origin of the fire was the upscttlng
Of n lamp in tho rear Of tho stage and the
flames wero Immediately communicated 10 the
scenery, upper galleries and dome. In tho
Opera Comquc either tho curtain or borders
of scenery caught fire from a row Of gas jets
ard in n few minutes tho stage was roaring
like q furnace and tho auditorium was densely
flied with smoke Escape from the stage
was attended with the gravcst difficulties
many of tho actors and singers periShing in
the flames and as was the case in Brooklyn
and Vienna the gas went out, and the occu-
pants Gagged in tho upper galleries were left to
grope their way out Of the passages and lob
bieS in binding smoke and utter darkness. In
two respects there was q ma kcd Improvement
upon tho condit ons Of the other calamities
Tho iron curtain Of the Ring Theatre-thcre
was no such partition In Broo,.lyn-was not
let down, whereas in Paris the mechanism was
in good working order and the burning stage
was mOmcnlanly shut off from the auditorium
"a circumstance to which many OF the spec
tttOfS owed thclf lives. nero was also DcJJtI
discipline On the part Of tho stage hands and
the firomcn were far more efficient in render
ing aid to tho panic stricken throng. Neither
in Brooklyn nor in Vienna was there any
water used for although apparatus was at
hand there was no force Of trained stage
hands on duty TO extinguish tho flames and
TO regulate the movements Of the audience.
In the Ring Theatre the hose was not even
attached to tho frc-plug. In the Opera CO.
miuue the precaut Ons taken to anticipate the
calamity weTo not equally neglected, but still
they were grossly inadequate. A frightful loss
of life has ensucd and nearly all the morals OF
the earlier catastrophcs may 10 repeated.
These morals arc so obvious and have been
SO frequently drawn that it is hardly necessary
for rs to lay strcss upon them. Happily The
lessons Of such calamities have been thorough
ly learned in our own city The last fifteen
wears have witnessed so marked an improve
ment in the construction Of p aces of amuse-
ment, tho introduction OF fre-proof material
tho multiplication Of exits and safeguards
and the organization Of bolies Of trained fire
men for regular stage duty that all the best
city theatres can 10 attended without pre-.
montions OF evil. The problem has not been
completely worked cut and viii not 10 until